Integrated circuit for wireless charging and operating method thereof

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit for wireless charging and a method for wireless charging by an integrated circuit are provided. The integrated circuit includes a first wireless communication unit configured to support a first wireless communication method; a first route selection unit configured to perform a selection from among a first power input from a battery and a second power input according to wireless charging to be allowed as input; a power block configured to receive the selected power from the first route selection unit, and provide the received power to the first wireless communication unit; and a controller configured to control an operation of the first route selection unit.

PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser.No. 14/104,001, which was filed in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office onDec. 12, 2013, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to KoreanApplication Serial Nos. 10-2012-0144794 & 10-2013-0140955, which werefiled in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 12, 2012 & Nov.19, 2013, the entire content of each of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wireless charging, and morespecifically, to a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo Integrated Circuit that can beapplied in a wireless charging field.

2. Description of the Related Art

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standards have been recently determined to beemployed for signaling in Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) in relationto the resonance type wireless charging technology. Accordingly, a BLE(e.g., Bluetooth (BT) 4.0 standards) single Integrated Circuit (IC) or aWi-Fi/BT 4.0 combo IC may be used according to user's preference, aslong as the signaling follows the BLE standards.

However, an interface (I/F) of existing Wi-Fi/BT combo ICs are toocomplex to be used in signaling for wireless charging. The Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC is dominated by an Application Processor (AP). However, whenperforming wireless charging, control operations are performed and datais transmitted/received in an order of control operations performed bythe AP, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC, and a wireless charging power IC.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional terminalhaving a wireless charging device. Referring to FIG. 1, when thewireless charging device is installed within a terminal 10 such that aback cover 15 having a resonator 14 therein is mounted to the terminal10, a separate Integrated Circuit (IC) (i.e., a BLE unit IC 16 or aWi-Fi/BT combo IC 17) is used for BLE signaling.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of another conventionalterminal having a wireless charging device. As illustrated in FIG. 2, anexisting Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 19 employed for a terminal 20 may be embeddedin the terminal 20 and used instead of a BLE unit IC 18. When theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 19 is used, wireless charging cannot be performed in astate in which the terminal 20 is turned off regardless of the presenceof a back cover 15 having a resonator therein.

In general, in a case of a single combo chip in which Wi-Fi, BT, etc.are implemented, among a Bluetooth core and a Wi-Fi core, the Wi-Fi coreoperates as a master core. Thus, the Wi-Fi core consuming a large amountof power should be driven for BT and BLE communication. In addition, BTand BLE profiles required for the BT and BLE communication exist in astack within an Application Processor (AP), and therefore wirelesscharging through the BT and BLE communication cannot be performed untilthe AP is driven. Namely, the wireless charging cannot be performed inthe dead battery situation in which the AP cannot be driven.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are provided to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide anintegrated circuit for wireless charging and a wireless charging methodin an integrated circuit for wireless charging, in which a Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC performs signaling during wireless charging, so that wirelesscharging can be performed even dead battery.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an integratedcircuit for wireless charging is provided. The integrated circuitincludes a first wireless communication unit configured to support afirst wireless communication method; a first route selection unitconfigured to perform a selection from among a first power input from abattery and a second power input according to wireless charging to beallowed as input; a power block configured to receive the selected powerfrom the first route selection unit, and provide the received power tothe first wireless communication unit; and a controller configured tocontrol an operation of the first route selection unit.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method forwireless charging method by an integrated circuit for wireless chargingis provided. The method includes determining whether there is receipt ofat least one of a first power input from a battery and a second powerinput according to wireless charging; if the first power and the secondpower are inputted, performing a selection to allow supply of the firstpower input; and performing at least one of wireless networkcommunication and contactless near field wireless communication byreceiving the first power input.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional terminalhaving a wireless charging device;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of another conventionalterminal having a wireless charging device;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a wireless powerreceiver having a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo Integrated Circuit (IC) thereinaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth comboIC according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an internal circuitof a wireless power receiver according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an internal circuitof a wireless power receiver according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an internal circuitof a wireless power receiver according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in accordance with wiredcharging and a wireless charging input during the wired charging in astate where a wireless power receiver is turned off, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in accordance withwireless charging and a wired charging input during the wirelesscharging in a state where a wireless power receiver is turned off,according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in accordance withwired charging and a wireless charging input during the wired chargingin a state where a wireless power receiver is turned on, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in accordance withwireless charging in a state where a wireless power receiver is turnedon, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in accordance with awired charging input in a state where a wireless power receiver isturned on, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail as followswith reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments to the presentinvention are not limited to particular forms described herein, butinclude all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe scope of the invention.

While terms including ordinal numbers, such as “first” and “second,”etc., may be used to describe various components herein, such componentsare not limited by the above terms. The terms herein are used merelyused for the purpose distinguishing elements from the other elements.For example, a first element could be termed a second element, andsimilarly, a second element could be also termed a first element withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. As used herein, theterm “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

The terms used in this application are provided for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and do not limit the invention.As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The termssuch as “include” and/or “have” may be construed to denote a certaincharacteristic, number, step, operation, constituent element, componentor a combination thereof, but may not be construed to exclude theexistence of or a possibility of addition of one or more othercharacteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements,components or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein have the same meaning ascommonly understood by those of skill in the art. Such terms as thosedefined in a generally used dictionary are to be interpreted to have themeanings equal to the contextual meanings in the relevant field of art,and are not to be interpreted to have ideal or excessively formalmeanings unless clearly defined in the present specification.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a wireless powerreceiver is a rechargeable battery powered device. Such a device may be,for example, a terminal, a portable terminal, a mobile terminal, acommunication terminal, a portable communication terminal, a portablemobile terminal, or the like. When charging a battery of the wirelesspower receiver, electrical energy is supplied to the battery through aseparate charging device. In general, the charging device and thebattery have separate contact terminals, respectively, at respectiveexteriors thereof and are electrically connected to each other throughmutual contact of the contact terminals. A power supplied through theelectrical connection may be referred to as wired power. Meanwhile,power supplied through a method in which the battery is automaticallycharged only if the wireless power receiver is put on a charging padwhile not being connected with the separate charging device may bereferred to as wireless power.

A mobile phone is described herein as an example of representativeconfiguration of the electronic device according to embodiments of thepresent invention. Some elements in the representative configuration ofsuch an electronic device may be omitted or changed as needed inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a wireless powerreceiver having a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth (BT) combo Integrated Circuit (IC)therein according to an embodiment of the present invention. A portableterminal is described herein as representative configuration of thewireless power receiver in FIG. 3, and some elements in therepresentative configuration of the wireless power receiver may beomitted or changed as needed in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention. Referring to FIG. 3, a terminal 100 includes anApplication Processor (AP) 110, a Power Management Integrated Circuit(PMIC) 120, a Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) power IC 130, and a Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC 150.

A back cover 200 including a resonator 210 is mounted to the terminal100, and the terminal 100 includes the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 and isconnected with a battery 300. Further, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 isconnected with a serial interface (I/F), an interrupt, and a power(e.g., battery 300).

The resonator 210 receives a wireless resonance signal transmitted froma resonance signal generator of a wireless power transmitter (notshown).

The AP 110 may be configured with an integrated control chip (not shown)performing various functions of a Central Processing Unit (CPU), such asdata conversion, a memory control, a bus control, etc. The AP 110 alsoincludes (not shown) a non-volatile memory. Data required for low powerwireless communication and data (a Wi-Fi profile, etc.) required forwireless network communication, such as Wi-Fi, are stored in thenon-volatile memory.

A series of processes performed with respect to the AP 110 is describedas follows. First, the AP 110 mounted to the terminal 100 is set to bewoken up when a request for power-on is input. Accordingly, when apower-on request is input, the wireless power receiver checks a state ofthe battery 300 and wakes up the AP 110 when a level of the battery isat least equal to a threshold value.

The PMIC 120 performs both a function of receiving wired power suppliedfrom the battery 300 mounted to the terminal 100 and a function ofcharging the battery 300 with wireless power received from the wirelesspower transmitter or a function of transferring the wireless power to alow power wireless communication unit (not shown) within the Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC 150.

The WPT power IC 130 includes an Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI)filter 131, an active synchronous rectifier 132, a synchronous buck 133,an output enabler 134, an Over-Voltage Power (OVP) clamping circuit 135,a Low Drop-Out (LDO) linear regulator 136, an Analog-Digital Converter(ADC) 137, and a serial Input/Output (I/O) 138.

The EMI filter 131 removes noise from the signal received through theresonator 210. The active synchronous rectifier 132 and the LDO 136rectify Alternating Current (AC) power received through the resonator210 to Direct Current (DC) power. The synchronous buck 133 suppliespower of 5 V for other elements, such as the PMIC 120, for example. Asdescribed above, the active synchronous rectifier 132, the synchronousbuck 133, and the LDO 136 adjust the battery power and supply the poweradjusted in advance as power for the respective elements of the wirelesspower receiver. Further, the OVP clamping circuit 135 prevents powerloss due to power voltage overhead. The serial I/O 138 is connected to aserial I/O 152 of the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 through an Inter-IntegratedCircuit (I2C), and is connected to a Micro Controller Unit (MCU) 153 ofthe Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 through a start signal INT.

The Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is a contactless near field wirelesscommunication unit that supports a first wireless communication methodand a second wireless communication method. A wireless network functionand a low power wireless communication function are illustrated examplesof the first and second wireless communication methods. The wirelessnetwork function is performed by a Wi-Fi communication unit (not shown),and the low power wireless communication function is performed by a BTcommunication unit (not shown) and a BLE communication unit (not shown).Here, the Wi-Fi communication unit is connected with a Radio Frequency(RF) switching 151 under the control of the BT communication unitoperating as a master in order to connect with an external server or toexecute an operation.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is described withreference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a structureof a Wi-Fi/BT combo IC illustrated in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4, dueto the structure of Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150, the terminal 100 is able towake up the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 during wireless charging, even in asituation where a battery of a device that includes the Wi-Fi/BT comboIC 150 is dead. The dead battery situation indicates a state in whichthe battery 300 of the terminal 100 is completely discharged so that theterminal 100 is powered off. Therefore, the above-described embodimentof the present invention provides a Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 that canperform wireless charging even in the state in which the terminal 100 ispowered off.

Referring to FIG. 4, a first route selection unit 154 and a second routeselection unit 155 are connected to an internal power terminal 156 ofthe Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150. Here, a combination of the first and secondroute selection units 154 and 155 may form a switching circuit that iscontrolled by the MCU 153 within the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 through acontrol line. A combination of the first and second route selectionunits 154 and 155 may also be referred to as a reverse blocking circuit.The internal power terminal 156 switches external input power on/off,and thereby is able to select at least one of an existing power of 1.8 Vfrom the PMIC 120, existing power received from a battery, powersupplied through wireless charging, and power of 1.8 V supplied from theWPT power IC 130 through wireless charging, according to varioussituations. The internal power terminal 156 is a power block thatreceives power and supplies the power to the respective elements withinthe Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150, and receives the power provided via any oneof the first and second route selection units 154 and 155.

The first route selection unit 154 performs a selection such that anyone of a first power input according to wired charging and a secondpower input according to wireless charging is input to the internalpower terminal 156 under the control of the MCU 153.

The second route-selection unit 155 performs a selection such that anyone of a third power input from the battery and a fourth power inputaccording to wireless charging is input to the internal power terminal156 under the control of the MCU 153.

The power block (i.e., the internal power terminal 156) receives powerfrom any one of the first and second route selection units 154 and 155,and supplies the power to the respective elements within the Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC 150. For example, when only the existing power (the existingpower of 1.8 V or the existing power received from the battery) issupplied, the first route selection unit 154 may allow the existingpower to be input to the internal power terminal 156 by controlsignaling from the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150. When both the existing powerand the wireless charging power (the power of 1.8 V supplied through thewireless charging or the power supplied through the wireless charging)are supplied, the internal power terminal 156 may preferentially receivean input of the existing power. Further, when only the wireless chargingpower but not the existing power is supplied, the internal powerterminal 156 may receive the wireless charging power to use the same asan input.

As another example, when the existing power is supplied, the internalpower terminal 156 may use the existing power as an input. When both theexisting power and the wireless charging power are supplied, the secondroute selection unit 155 may allow the wireless charging power to bepreferentially input to the internal power terminal 156 by controlsignaling from the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150. Further, when only thewireless charging power but not the existing power is supplied, theinternal power terminal 156 may receive the wireless charging power touse the same as an input. The power supplied through the internal powerterminal 156 as described above is supplied to the respective elementswithin the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150, and the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 issupplied with the power to perform wireless network communication orcontactless near field wireless communication.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an internal circuitof a power receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a connection relation between respective elements andinput signals. Although the internal circuit of the power receiver maybe configured as illustrated in FIG. 5, the internal circuit may also beconfigured as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a diagramillustrating a configuration of an internal circuit of a power receiveraccording to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 isa diagram illustrating a configuration of an internal circuit of a powerreceiver according to further another embodiment of the presentinvention. Elements in FIGS. 5 to 7 that perform the same functions ascorresponding elements in FIG. 3, are denoted by the same referencenumerals.

Power input terminals of a Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may be divided into twotypes, i.e., a power input terminal for wired charging and a power inputterminal for wireless charging. Switching between the two power inputterminals may exert a large influence on power efficiency of thewireless power receiver. Accordingly, the switching between the twopower input terminals may be performed based on the following table.Table 1 corresponds to an example of a VIO 1.8 V power switching table.

TABLE 1 From Power IC for Input power source of Power block From PMICwireless charging within Combo L L COMBO IC OFF L H POWER IC FORWIRELESS CHARGING H H FROM WIRELESS POWER IC H L VIO FROM PMIC

Referring to Table 1 above, when a low (‘L’) signal is input from a PMIC120 and an ‘L’ signal is input from a power IC 130 for wirelesscharging, there is no input for wired charging and wireless charging.Thus, the combo IC, i.e., the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is maintained in anOff state. Meanwhile, when an ‘L’ signal is input from the PMIC 120 anda high (‘H’) signal is input from the power IC 130 for wirelesscharging, there is a power input for wireless charging. Thus, theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 receives power from the power IC 130 for wirelesscharging.

Further, when an ‘H’ signal is input from the PMIC 120 and an ‘H’ signalis input from the power IC 130 for wireless charging, there are both apower input for wired charging and a power input for wireless charging.In this case, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 receives power from the PMIC 120since the wired charging is stable. Moreover, when an ‘H’ signal isinput from the PMIC 120 and an ‘L’ signal is input from the power IC 130for wireless charging, there is only a power input for wired charging.Thus, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 receives power from the PMIC 120.

Meanwhile, Table 2 corresponds to an example of a VBATT power switchingtable.

TABLE 2 3.3 V From Power IC Input power source of Power block FromBattery for wireless charging within Combo L L COMBO IC OFF L H FROMWIRELESS POWER IC H H VBATT FROM BATTERY H L VBATT FROM BATTERY

Table 2 is different from Table 1 in that power (VBATT) is input from abattery 300 but not from the PMIC 120 in a case in which an ‘H’ signalis input from the battery 300 and an ‘H’ signal is input from the powerIC 130 for wireless charging, and in a case in which an ‘H’ signal isinput from the battery 300 and an ‘L’ signal is input from the power IC130 for wireless charging.

As described above, if the power of 1.8 V is supplied from the power IC130 for wireless charging to the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150, a BLE functionwithin the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 automatically starts.

An operation of the internal circuit of the wireless power receiver ofFIGS. 5 to 7 according to the wired and/or wireless charging isdescribed as follows.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in accordance with wiredcharging and a wireless charging input during the wired charging while awireless power receiver is turned off, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, when reception of wired power is detected in step1000 in a state where the wireless power receiver is turned off, thepower is supplied to all elements including an AP 110 in step 1005. Forexample, the wireless power receiver may be connected with a wiredcharging terminal through an external device connection unit such as acharging connection jack of the wireless power receiver. When a wiredcharger is connected to the wireless power receiver as described above,an IF PMIC 140 of FIG. 5 detects a wired connection to transmit an Onsignal to a PMIC 120, and supplies power of V_(Battery) and power ofVPH_PWR to the battery 300 and the PMIC 120, respectively, for powersupply to the battery and the entire system. Then, the PMIC 120 suppliesthe power to a display (not shown) and a clock (not shown) as well asthe AP 110 and a Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150, which require power for aminimum power mode. At this time, 1.8V clock power is used for theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150.

Next, the PMIC 120 applies a PWR RESET to the AP 110. Then, the AP 110resets peripheral devices while booting up, and initializes GeneralPurpose Input/Output (GPIO). At this time, if a user pushes a hold keyto identify a charging state, the AP 110 processes the key input.Accordingly, an icon that indicates the charging state may be displayedon a display unit. At this time, since the wired charging is beingperformed, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 for wireless charging is notrequired to operate. When reception of wireless power is not detectedduring the wired charging in step 1010, the operation flow returns tostep 1000 and a determination of whether the reception of the wiredpower is continued is performed. If the reception of the wired power isinterrupted (e.g., when a user removes the wired charger from thewireless power receiver), power supply to the entire system of thewireless power receiver is interrupted and then the wireless powerreceiver is maintained in an Off state, in step 1015.

However, when there is a determination that the wireless power isreceived in step 1010 (e.g., when a user puts the wireless powerreceiver on a wireless charging pad while the wired charging terminal isconnected to the wireless power receiver), a power of 1.8 V is appliedfrom a power IC 130 to the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150. Accordingly, in step1020, elements related to low power near field wireless communication(i.e., the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150) is enabled and boots up by using a BLEstack (not shown) within the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150. At this time, thepower IC 130 may identify that the wired charging is being performed, byreceiving a wired charging detection signal by a TA-DET pin (not shown)from a TA-USB. Accordingly, the power IC 130 sets continuation of thewired charging in an internal register and sends a start signal INT toan MCU 153.

The Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may ascertain a situation of the power IC 130through I2C communication, and before starting the wireless charging, adetermination is performed as to whether the wired charging is beingperformed, in step 1025.

If the wired charging is interrupted, charging is performed by usingwireless power, in step 1030. Specifically, if a connection for thewired charging is lost, a TA-DET pin of the power IC 130 becomes ‘L’ tothereby generate a start signal INT. Then, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150ascertains a situation within the power IC 130 and informs a wirelesspower transmitter of the situation. Accordingly, the wireless powertransmitter increases the power transmitted to the wireless powerreceiver and then issues a charge command CHARGER ENable (EN). Then, theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 of the wireless power receiver allows the power IC130 to transmit the power to the IF PMIC 140. More specifically, thepower is transmitted to the IF PMIC 140 in order to charge the battery300.

However, after a determination in step 1025 that the wired power isbeing received (i.e., the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is simultaneouslyperforming the wired and wireless charging), in step 1035, a powerswitch that allows the power to be supplied through the wired chargingis selected and used, and the wireless power receiver may communicatewith the wireless power transmitter to inform the wireless powertransmitter that the wired charging is being performed. Namely, a firstinterrupter 151 may be switched on/off such that the power suppliedthrough the wired charging is selected. Accordingly, the IF PMIC 140supplies the power to all the elements within the wireless powerreceiver so that the wired charging may be performed.

The wireless power transmitter may output an indication that the wiredcharging is being performed on the wireless charging pad. The wirelesspower transmitter may reduce the power transmitted to the wireless powerreceiver. The wireless power transmitter may also operate in a standbystate without transmitting the power for a predetermined period of timeuntil wireless charging with the wireless power receiver is restarted.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in accordance withwireless charging and a wired charging input during the wirelesscharging in a state where a wireless power receiver is turned off,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, when reception of wireless power is detected in astate where the wireless power receiver is turned off in step 1100, anelement related to low power near field wireless communication (i.e., aWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150) is enabled and then boots up by using a BLEstack, in step 1105. Specifically, when the power reception for wirelesscharging is detected, a power IC 130 supplies power of 1.8 V to theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 and the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is then enabled byitself, so as to operate a crystal of 37.4 MHz, and boots up by usingthe BLE stack. Since the power of 1.8 V is not applied from a PMIC 120to a VIO of the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150ascertains that the wireless charging is being performed in the Offstate, and in step 1110, notifies a wireless power transmitter that thewireless charging is being performed in the Off state.

When a charge command is received from the wireless power transmitter inresponse to the notification, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 performscharging by using the wireless power in step 1115. Specifically, theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 activates a CHARGER_EN pin (not shown) and allowsthe wireless charging power IC 130 to transmit the power to an IF PMIC140. More specifically, the power is transmitted to the IF PMIC 140 forcharging of a battery 300. The IF PMIC 140 supplied with the powertransfers an On signal to the PMIC 120, and supplies power of VBatteryand power of VPH_PWR for power supply to the battery and the entiresystem. Then, the PMIC 120 starts to operate as the On signal istransferred, and supplies the power to a display and a clock as well asan AP 110 and the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150.

The AP 110 preferentially resets peripheral ICs and then initializesGPIO in a boot-up step. The Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may be reset by asignal such as BT_REG_ON, WL_REG_ON, etc., which are transferred fromthe AP 110. When the VIO of the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 receives power of1.8 V from the PMIC 120, an internal SWitch (SW) MUltipleXer (MUX)circuit uses the power of the PMIC 120. Here, although the signalBT_REG_ON from the AP 110 represents an ‘L’ state, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC150 operates by using the power of 1.8 V transferred from the power IC130.

Next, in step 1120, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 determines whether thewireless charging is completed. If the wireless charging is completed,the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 informs the wireless power transmitter of thecompletion of charging, in step 1125. Specifically, if the Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC 150 monitors a small amount of current exiting from the powerIC 130 at the time of buffering, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 informs thewireless power transmitter of the completion of charging. Accordingly,the wireless power transmitter may display the completion of charging ona wireless charging pad.

Meanwhile, an input for wired charging may be entered during thewireless charging. For example, a user may connect a wired chargingterminal to the wireless power receiver that has already been placed onthe wireless charging pad.

Accordingly, before the wireless charging is completed in step 1120, adetermination is made in step 1130 as to whether reception of wiredpower is detected during the wireless charging. If the reception of thewired power is not detected, operation flow returns to step 1115 and thewireless charging is performed. However, if the reception of the wiredpower is detected, the power is supplied to all elements including theAP 1110 in step 1135. More specifically, when an input for the wiredcharging is entered during the wireless charging, the wired charging isselected and the IF PMIC 140 charges the wireless power receiver byusing the wired charging power.

Further, an ‘H’ signal is detected in TA-DET of the power IC 130 so thata start signal INT is generated, and the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 mayascertain an event situation of the power IC 130 by using the I2C. Morespecifically, referring to Table 1 above, since an ‘H’ signal isdetected from the power IC 130 and an ‘H’ signal according to a wiredcharging connection is detected from the PMIC 130, an input power sourcewithin the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may be determined as wired charging.Accordingly, in step 1140, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 performs chargingby using the wired power and informs the wireless power transmitter thatthe wired charging is being performed. Next, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150deactivates the CHARGER_EN pin of the power IC 130.

The wireless power transmitter outputs an indication that the wiredcharging is being performed on the wireless charging pad. Then, thewireless power transmitter reduces the power transmitted to the wirelesspower receiver. At this time, if a user stops the wired charging, an ‘L’signal is detected in the TA-DET of the power IC 130 so that a startsignal INT is generated, and the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may grasp, byusing the I2C, that the event situation of the power IC 130 indicatesthe interruption of the wired charging. Accordingly, the Wi-Fi/BT comboIC 150 requests the wireless power transmitter to increase thetransmitting power again. More specifically, when the wired charging isinterrupted, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 makes the request to the wirelesspower transmitter, in order for charging to continue via wirelesscharging.

As described above, when the wireless charging, the wired charging, thewired charging during the wireless charging, or the wireless chargingduring the wired charging is performed while the wireless power receiveris turned off, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 does not operate, or operatesbased on the BLE stack of the internal memory thereof to thereby operatein a Stand Alone (SA) mode. More specifically, when there is not enoughpower to wake up the application processor or an input through a powerbutton is not entered, so that the wireless power receiver is maintainedin the Off state, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may not be supplied with afull stack from the AP 110 and therefore may not operate in a Non-StandAlone (NSA) mode. The NSA mode is an operation mode based on the loadedstack by loading to the memory within Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 by inputtingthe stack, which is the communication method for the wireless chargingfrom AP 110.

However, when the wireless charging, the wired charging, the wiredcharging during the wireless charging, or the wireless charging duringthe wired charging is performed while the wireless power receiver isturned on, a mode change between the SA mode and the NSA mode is made.Accordingly, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may operate based on the BLEstack of the internal memory thereof, or may also receive an input ofthe full stack from the AP 110 to operate based on the full stack fromthe AP 110.

An operation of internal circuit elements of a wireless power receiverwhen the wireless power receiver is turned on is described as followswith reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in accordance withwired charging and a wireless charging input during the wired chargingin a state where a wireless power receiver is turned on, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, in step 1200, reception of wired power ismonitored while the wireless power receiver is turned on. For example,when a user inserts a wired charging terminal into a charging terminalof the wireless power receiver for wired charging, the wired power isreceived. Specifically, an IF PMIC 140 transmits an On signal to a PMIC120, and supplies power of VBattery and power of VPH_PWR for powersupply to a battery and the entire system. Accordingly, an AP 110ascertains that the wired charging is being performed, and controlsdisplay of a charging icon. At this time, the AP 110 transfers an ‘L’signal to a Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 by BT_REG_ON. Then, as illustrated inTable 2, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 does not operate based on the ‘L’signal output from a battery 300 through the AP 110 and an ‘L’ signalfrom a power IC 130, which indicates that there is no connection forwireless charging.

Thereafter, when communicating with the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150, the AP110 outputs an ‘H’ signal by BT_WAKE and transfers the ‘H’ signal to theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 by the BT_REG_ON, in order to wake up the circuitunit performing contactless near field wireless communication. Then, theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 starts to operate, and transfers an ‘H’ signal tothe AP 110 by BT_HOST_WAKE to communicate with the AP 110 through UART.When the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 wakes up in the manner described above,the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is used through communication with a BT earset and a BT product. Otherwise, when communication is not performed fora long period of time, the AP 110 outputs an ‘L’ signal by the BT_WAKE,and the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 then shifts to a sleep state. At thistime, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 receives, for example, a BT 4.0 fullstack from the AP 110 to load the same into a RAM, and communicates withthe wireless power transmitter based on the full stack.

Meanwhile, an input for wireless charging may be entered during thewired charging. For example, a user may put the wireless power receiveron a wireless charging pad, while a wired charging terminal is connectedto the wireless power receiver.

Accordingly, before the wired charging is completed, a determination ismade in step 1210 as to whether reception of wireless power is detectedduring the wired charging. If the reception of the wireless power isdetected, the IF PMIC 140 charges the wireless power receiver by usingthe wired charging power.

At this time, a determination is made in step 1215 as to whether theelement related to low power near field wireless communication, i.e.,the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is in an active state. Namely, it isdetermined whether the AP 110 has transferred an ‘H’ signal to theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 by BT_REG_ON.

If the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is in the active state, the Wi-Fi/BT comboIC 150 has already been booted up based on the a full stack, and the AP110 controls the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 for communication with anexternal device (e.g., a BT ear set, a wireless charging pad, etc.) andcommunicates with the external device. Accordingly, when chargingthrough the wired power, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 requests reduction ofoutput power from the wireless power transmitter by using the fullstack, in step 1220.

Specifically, when the wireless power is received, the power IC 130transmits power of 1.8 V/3.7 V to the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 and an ‘H’signal is output by TA_DET, so that a start signal INT is transferred tothe Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150. When the power of 1.8 V or the start signalINT is input, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 ascertains the situation of thepower IC 130 through the I2C, and thus ascertains that the wired andwireless chargings are being simultaneously performed. Accordingly,since the wired and wireless chargings are being simultaneouslyperformed, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 requests an adjustment of the powerduring communication with the wireless power transmitter. Here, theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 can communicate with the wireless powertransmitter as well as a BT ear set, by using a single antenna throughtime division.

However, when the reception of the wired power is interrupted in step1230, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 requests an increase in the output powerfrom the wireless power transmitter, by using the full stack in step1235. Specifically, when the wired charging terminal is removed from thewireless power receiver, the power IC 130 detects an ‘L’ signal by aTA_DET pin and transmits a start signal INT to the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC150. Then, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 recognizes an event situation ofthe power IC 130 in a state where 1.8 V according to the wirelesscharging is input, and may request the wireless power transmitter toincrease the transmitting power. When the wireless power transmitterincreases the transmitting power in response to the request, theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 enables a buck output of the power IC 130 totransmit the power to the IF PMIC 140, and the IF PMIC 140 charges thebattery.

However, after a determination in step 1215 that the element related tothe low power near field wireless communication (i.e., the Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC 150) is not in the active state (more specifically, if the AP110 does not transfer an ‘H’ signal to the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 byBT_REG_ON), a signal by BT_REG_ON is always an ‘L’ signal.

Accordingly, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is enabled by itself, bydetecting power of 1.8 V corresponding to the wireless charging in aninitial stage of receiving the power from the power IC 130, and boots upby using the BLE stack. Specifically, when the wireless power isreceived, the power IC 130 starts to operate. The power IC 130 transmitspower of 1.8 V/3.7 V and at the same time, ascertains that the signal bythe TA_DET pin is an ‘H’ signal, to transmit a start signal INT to theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150. Then, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 boots up bydetecting the 1.8 V output of the power IC 130 and operating a crystalof 37.4 MHz, and accesses the power IC 130 by using the I2C to ascertainthe situation.

Next, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 informs the AP 110 that the wirelesscharging is being performed, and the AP 110 activates a BT function.Meanwhile, when the wireless charging is completed (more specifically,when a user removes the wireless power receiver from the wirelesscharging pad), the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is disabled. However, when theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 informs the AP 110 that the wireless charging isbeing performed, the AP 110 recognizes that the wired and wirelesschargings are simultaneously applied, informs the wireless powertransmitter that the wired and wireless chargings are simultaneouslyapplied, and activates the BT function to request an adjustment of thepower. To this end, the AP 110 transmits an ‘H’ signal to the Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC 150 by BT_REG_ON.

Then, in step 1225, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 informs the wireless powertransmitter that the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is to be reset, andthereafter restarts communication by using the full stack. Specifically,since the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 will be reset, the wireless powertransmitter is requested to maintain the power transmission, even ifcommunication is lost for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 2seconds). A response to maintain the power transmission may be receivedfrom the wireless power transmitter in response to the request, and theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 receives the full stack from the AP 110 afterbeing reset and restarts communication with the wireless powertransmitter based on the full stack, thereby maintaining the wirelesscharging. When the wireless charging is input during the wired charging,the AP 110 selects the wired charging, but may maintain the wirelesscharging, uninterrupted. However, after a determination that thereception of the wired power is interrupted in step 1230 after thewireless charging is input, the AP 110 requests an increase in theoutput power by using the full stack, in step 1235.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in accordance withwireless charging in a state where a wireless power receiver is turnedon, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, reception of wireless power is monitored in step1300 while the wireless power receiver is turned on. For example, when auser puts the wireless power receiver on a wireless charging pad forwireless charging, wireless power may be received. At this time, sincethe wireless power receiver is in an On state, a Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150is supplied with power of 1.8 V from a battery 300 through a PMIC 120.

If the reception of the wireless power is detected, a determination ismade in step 1305 as to whether an element related to low power nearfield wireless communication (i.e., the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150) is in anactive state. If the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is not in an active state,namely, a signal from an AP 110 by BT_REG_ON is an ‘L’ signal and powerof 1.8 V is detected from a power IC 130, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 isenabled by itself and boots up by using a BLE stack in step 1310. Then,the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 activates CHARGER_EN of the power IC 130,after communicating with a wireless power transmitter, therebycontrolling transmission of power to an IF PMIC 140. The IF PMIC 140accordingly supplied with the power transfers an On signal to the PMIC120, and supplies power of VBattery and power of VPH_PWR for powersupply to a battery and the entire system, thereby performing thewireless charging.

Further, as the On signal is transferred, the PMIC 120 informs the AP110 that the wireless charging is being performed, in step 1315. Then,the AP 110 may ascertain that the wireless charging is being performed,and transmits an ‘H’ signal by BT_REG_ON to activate BT. In response totransmission of the ‘H’ signal, in step 1320, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150reports to the wireless power transmitter that the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150is to be reset. This report serves to request the wireless powertransmitter to maintain the power for a predetermined period of time(e.g., 2 seconds), even if communication are lost, since the Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC 150 itself will be reset. The Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 restartscommunication with the wireless power transmitter by using the fullstack in step 1325 after being reset, and continuously performs thewireless charging in step 1330. Next, in step 1335, a determination ofwhether the wireless charging is completed is performed. To this end,the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 determine whether the wireless charging iscompleted by monitoring whether a current exiting from the power IC 130is reduced. After a determination that the wireless charging has beencompleted, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 informs the wireless powertransmitter of the completion of the charging in step 1340.

However, if the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 is in the active state in step1305 (i.e., a signal from the AP 110 by BT_REG_ON is an ‘H’ signal), theWi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may have been booted up through the full stack.Since the wireless power has been received in this state, power of 1.8V/3.7 V is transferred from the power IC 130 to the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC150. Accordingly, as power of 1.8 V or a start signal INT is input fromthe power IC 130, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may ascertain the situationof the power IC 130 and thus may identify that the wireless charging isbeing performed.

The Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 performs communication with the wireless powertransmitter by using the full stack, in step 1325. Next, the Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC 150 allows the power IC 130 to transmit the power to the IFPMIC 140, and performs charging by using the wireless power as in step1330.

Meanwhile, after the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 informs the wireless powertransmitter of the completion of the wireless charging, the wirelesspower transmitter may reduce the power transmitted to the wireless powerreceiver, or may inform that the wireless charging will be completed. Inthis case, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may inform the AP 110 that thepower supply by the wireless power transmitter will be interruptedtogether with the completion of the charging.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in accordance with awired charging input in a state where a wireless power receiver isturned on, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, operations in steps 1400 to 1430 are the same asthose in steps 1300 to 1330 of FIG. 11, and therefore a furtherdescription of these steps is omitted. Meanwhile, in the process ofperforming charging by using wireless power, in step 1435, adetermination is performed as to whether reception of wired power isdetected. If the reception of the wired power is detected, a Wi-Fi/BTcombo IC 150 performs the charging by using the wired power and informsa wireless power transmitter that the wired charging is being performed,in step 1440. In this way, the Wi-Fi combo IC 150 may request thewireless power transmitter to adjust transmitting power.

The Wi-Fi combo IC 150 operates through a BLE stack in a BT inactivestate, namely, while an ‘L’ signal by BT_REG_ON is transferred. Then,the Wi-Fi combo IC 150 is reset after an ‘H’ signal by BT_REG_ON istransferred from an AP 110, and may operate by using a full stack.However, since a signal from the AP 110 by BT_REG_ON is an ‘H’ signal ina BT active state, the Wi-Fi/BT combo IC 150 may have been booted upthrough the full stack, and thus may operate by using the full stack.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the existingWi-Fi/BT combo IC employed for the wireless power receiver performssignaling during wireless charging, so that a space within the wirelesspower receiver can be saved, manufacturing costs of the wireless powerreceiver can be reduced, and the wireless power receiver can bewirelessly charged even in the dead battery situation in which thebattery of the wireless power receiver is dead so that the wirelesspower receiver is turned off.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and detail may be made thereinwithout departing form the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated circuit for wireless charging,comprising: a first wireless communication unit configured to support afirst wireless communication method; a first route selection unitconfigured to perform a selection from among a first power input from abattery and a second power input according to wireless charging to beallowed as input; a power block configured to receive the selected powerfrom the first route selection unit, and provide the received power tothe first wireless communication unit; and a controller configured tocontrol an operation of the first route selection unit.
 2. Theintegrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising: a second wirelesscommunication unit configured to support a second wireless communicationmethod.
 3. The integrated circuit of claim 2, further comprising: asecond route selection unit configured to perform a selection from amonga power between a third power input from the battery and a fourth powerinput according to wireless charging to be allowed as input.
 4. Theintegrated circuit of claim 3, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to the second route selection unit to transfer the fourthpower to the power block if the third power and the fourth power areinputted.
 5. The integrated circuit of claim 4, wherein the controllerdetermines whether charging from the battery or the wireless charging isbeing performed, by receiving a signal from a power Integrated Circuit(IC) through an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) and an INT interface. 6.The integrated circuit of claim 3, wherein the first route selectionunit and second route selection unit comprise one or more switches. 7.The integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein the second wirelesscommunication unit includes a Bluetooth communication unit and aBluetooth low energy communication unit.
 8. The integrated circuit ofclaim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control thefirst route selection unit to transfer the second power input to thepower block if the first power is not inputted and the second power isinputted, and control the first route selection unit to transfer thefirst power input to the power block if the first power is inputted. 9.The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to control the first route selection unit to transfer thefirst power input to the power block if the first power and the secondpower are inputted.
 10. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein eachof the first power input and the second power input provides a powerinput of 1.8 V.
 11. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the firstwireless communication unit includes a Wi-Fi communication unit.
 12. Amethod for wireless charging by an integrated circuit, comprising:determining whether there is receipt of at least one of a first powerinput from a battery and a second power input according to wirelesscharging; if the first power and the second power are inputted,performing a selection to allow supply of the first power input; andperforming at least one of wireless network communication andcontactless near field wireless communication by receiving the firstpower input.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein performing theselection comprises performing a switching operation that supplies thefirst power input into the integrated circuit.
 14. The method of claim12, further comprising: if the second power is inputted and the firstpower is not inputted, performing a selection to allow supply of thesecond power input; if the first power is inputted, performing aselection to allow supply of the first power input.
 15. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: determining whether there is receipt of atleast one of a third power input from the battery and a fourth powerinput according to wireless charging; and if third power and the fourthpower are inputted, performing a selection to allow supply of the fourthpower input.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless networkcommunication comprises Wi-Fi communication.
 17. The method of claim 12,wherein the contactless near field wireless communication comprisesBluetooth communication and Bluetooth low energy communication.
 18. Themethod of claim 12, wherein each of the first power input and the secondpower input provides a power input of 1.8 V.
 19. An electronic devicefor wireless charging, comprising: a first wireless communication unitconfigured to support a first wireless communication method; a firstroute selection unit configured to perform a selection from among afirst power input from a battery and a second power input according towireless charging to be allowed as input; a power block configured toreceive the selected power from the first route selection unit, andprovide the received power to the first wireless communication unit; anda controller configured to control an operation of the first routeselection unit.